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Open-File Report 2013–1168

Prepared in cooperation with the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians

Evaluation of Aerial Thermal Infrared Remote Sensing to Identify Groundwater-Discharge Zones in the Meduxnekeag River, Houlton, Maine

By Charles W. Culbertson, Thomas G. Huntington, James M. Caldwell, and Cara O’Donnell

Thumbnail of and link to report PDF (4.51 MB)Abstract

Residents of the area near Houlton, Maine, have observed seasonal episodic blooms of algae and documented elevated concentrations of fecal-coliform bacteria and inorganic nutrients and low dissolved oxygen concentrations in the Meduxnekeag River. Although point and nonpoint sources of urban and agricultural runoff likely contribute to water-quality impairment, the role of shallow groundwater inflows in delivering such contaminants to the Meduxnekeag River has not been well understood.

To provide information about possible groundwater inflows to the river, airborne thermal infrared videography was evaluated as a means to identify and classify thermal anomalies in a 25-mile reach of the mainstem and tributaries of the Meduxnekeag River near Houlton, Maine. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, collected thermal infrared images from a single-engine, fixed-wing aircraft during flights on December 3–4, 2003, and November 26, 2004.

Eleven thermal anomalies were identified on the basis of data from the December 2003 flight and 17 from the November 2004 flight, which covered the same reaches of stream. Following image analysis, characterization, and prioritization, the georeferenced infrared images of the thermal anomalies were compared to features on topographic maps of the study area. The mapped anomalies were used to direct observations on the ground to confirm discharge locations and types of inflow. The variations in grayscale patterns on the images were thus confirmed as representing shallow groundwater-discharge zones (seeps), outfalls of treated wastewater, or ditches draining runoff from impervious surfaces.

First posted February 4, 2014

For additional information, contact:
Office Chief, New England Water Science Center
U.S. Geological Survey
Maine Office
196 Whitten Road
Augusta, ME 04330
(207) 622-8201
http://me.water.usgs.gov

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Suggested citation:

Culbertson, C.W., Huntington, T.G., Caldwell, J.M., and O’Donnell, Cara, 2014, Evaluation of aerial thermal infrared remote sensing to identify groundwater-discharge zones in the Meduxnekeag River, Houlton, Maine: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2013–1168, 21 p., http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/ofr20131168.

ISSN 2331-1258 (online)



Contents

Acknowledgments

Abstract

Introduction

Purpose and Scope

Previous Investigations

Description of Study Area

Aerial and Ground-Based Methods of Data Collection

Identification of Thermal Anomalies

Summary

References Cited

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